ne of the many changes prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic was the shift to medical care outside the doctor’s office. A movement that started with devices connected to a router is evolving toward a networked system that follows...
As healthcare demands rise, several companies have teamed up to build a modular solution intended to offer fast additional surgical or patient treatment capacity. Hunt Electric Corp., Bloomington, Minn., is at the center of...
In healthcare today, short hospital stays are normal, and recovery at home or at a rehabilitation facility is common. When I was still at the NFPA, I heard a lot of concern about durable medical equipment (DME) installed in...
Working in a healthcare setting during a pandemic poses plenty of risks, but as Sharlen Electric learned, hazards can be reduced with careful planning and swift action. Sharlen serves several healthcare providers, making it a...
It’s a new year, but will it be different from last year? From 2012–2015, the wind was to our backs, and we made great strides. Total construction starts (breaking ground) grew between 11–14 percent. In 2016–2017, we...
Justin Brunenkant comes from a long line of electricians; his father, grandfather, brother and two uncles have all been in the business. So perhaps it was no surprise that Brunenkant would enter the family business (so to...
Building energy consumption has emerged as an important component in the movement toward greater energy efficiency. Specific industries stand to gain more than others as their buildings adopt more efficient technology. For...
Philadelphia, the birthplace of U.S. independence, is a city that evolves while also reflecting on its past. Its new Museum of the American Revolution showcases this history with snapshots frozen in time. Conversely, the Rail...
Circadian lighting is a generic term used to describe lighting designs that support alignment of circadian rhythms to a day-active and night-sleeping pattern. The lighting approach offers the additional potential to increase...
Oklahoma City’s Mercy Hospital is bustling. One of the state’s largest hospitals, it’s the leading provider of treatment for cancer, strokes, imaging and research, robotic surgery, and operation of a Level III neonatal...
While the trend toward indoor and outdoor LED relamping projects has been exploding in recent years because of cost- and energy-saving saving opportunities, a less noticeable LED trend is expected to come into its own in the...
Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. If you have a query about the National Electrical Code (NEC), Jim will help you solve it. Send questions to codefaqs@gmail.com. Answers are based on the 2017 NEC...
Lighting controls in large public spaces have evolved differently than those for offices and homes. The 24/7 operation of healthcare facilities, airports and train stations means lights are always on and at maximum output. As...
Reducing differences of potential between conductive equipment or other objects and ground (earth) helps minimize shock hazards in normal circuit operation. In patient care spaces, it is even more important that overcurrent...
Schneider Electric has launched its Healthcare Crowdsourcing Challenge, which is open to U.S. professional engineers and teams with engineers to explore the potential of the internet of things (IoT) and smart edge devices in...
Electrical contractors working in healthcare facilities must adhere to rigorous safety protocols, the National Electrical Code and cleanliness standards often tougher than those imposed in other types of projects. Conditions...
With schools and healthcare facilities struggling to balance rising costs with ever-tightening budgets, energy-efficient lighting upgrades can be an easy and effective way to improve a facility’s lighting quality and...
Someone recently inquired about the proper wiring methods in a patient care location of a healthcare facility. A few factors relate to this determination. One of the first things is knowing the type of construction for the...
In the March 2012 Electrical Contractor, I mentioned the increased number of receptacles in patient bed locations with a minimum of 14 receptacles in a Category 1 critical-care area and 36 receptacles in a Category 1...
